BioProbe Sheath and Method of Use

Abstract

This invention relates to a medical device comprising at least one bioprobe for collecting data, a single-use protective cover mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe, a control module, and a sheath removal system comprising a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover, and a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 at least one bioprobe for collecting data;   a single-use protective cover mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe;   a control module; and   a sheath removal system comprising:
 a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover; 
 a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover; and 
 a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein said sheath removal system causes the collected data from said at least one bioprobe to be locked so that the user cannot access these data until the single-use protective cover has been captured and retained by the single-use protective cover locking mechanism of the sheath removal system. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the sheath removal system causes the collected data from at least one bioprobe to be locked by the control module so that the user cannot use the bioprobe with a new patient until the single-use protective cover has been captured and retained by the single-use protective cover locking mechanism of the sheath removal system. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one bioprobe comprises at least one detector. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one bioprobe comprises an illuminator. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein said single-use protective cover is mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe by a bayonet attachment. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein said the mechanical attachment of said single-use protective cover to said at least one bioprobe is adjustably positionable. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising a disposal unit for said single-use protective cover after capture and retention by the sheath removal system. 
     
     
         9 . A medical device comprising:
 at least one bioprobe for collecting data;   a single-use protective cover mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe;   a control module; and   a destructive sheath removal system comprising:
 a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover; 
 a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover; 
 a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module; and 
 a single-use protective cover destruction mechanism. 
   
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 9  wherein said destructive sheath removal system causes the collected data from said at least one bioprobe to be locked so that the user cannot save these data until the single-use protective cover has been captured and retained by the single-use protective cover locking mechanism of the destructive sheath removal system. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 9  wherein said at least one bioprobe comprises at least one detector. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 9  wherein said at least one bioprobe comprises an illuminator. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 9  wherein said single-use protective cover is mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe by a bayonet attachment. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 9  wherein said the mechanical attachment of said single-use protective cover to said at least one bioprobe is adjustably positionable. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 9  wherein said destruction is a mechanical destruction selected from the group consisting of crushing, bending, cutting, breaking, or otherwise physically deforming said single-use protective cover. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 9  wherein said destruction comprises rendering the sheath incapable of transmitting some or all of the illumination light. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 9  further comprising a disposal unit for said single-use protective cover after destruction by said destructive sheath removal system. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 a). supplying at least one bioprobe for collecting data;   b). mechanically attaching a single-use protective cover said at least one bioprobe;   c). placing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover proximal a biological tissue to be interrogated;   d). removing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover from said biological tissue after collecting data;   e). placing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover into a sheath removal system comprising a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module, and a medical waste container for retaining said single-use protective cover upon its removal from said bioprobe;   f). locking said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover into said locking mechanism to trigger said single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with a control module to release the collected data to the control module;   g). removing said at least one bioprobe for collecting data from the sheath removal system; and   h). retaining said single-use protective cover in said medical waste container.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 a). supplying at least one bioprobe for collecting data;   b). mechanically attaching a single-use protective cover said at least one bioprobe;   c). placing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover proximal a biological tissue to be interrogated;   d). removing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover from said biological tissue after collecting data;   e). placing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover into a sheath removal system comprising a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module, a single-use protective cover destruction mechanism, and a medical waste container for retaining said single-use protective cover upon its removal from said bioprobe;   f). locking said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover into said locking mechanism to trigger said single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with a control module to release the collected data to the control module;   g). removing said at least one bioprobe for collecting data from the sheath removal system;   h). destroying the single-use protective cover retained in the locking mechanism with the destruction mechanism; and,   i). retaining said single-use protective cover in said medical waste container.